Homer Alaska - Opinion

Story last updated at
6:16 PM on
Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Keep It Simple Sunday: perfect relief for frazzled brains, bodies

By Lisa Asselin

Amidst the ice and snow, the games and gatherings, the cough drops and wadded up tissues, I've noticed a town full of zombies lumbering around me. Young and old, big and small, we all look like we've been run over, run down and run over again. In the haze, we wonder why we are so tired, scattered and "behind" in all the things we "need" to accomplish.

Since you're too worn out to ponder this seemingly unanswerable question, I'll fill you in. We are acting like it's summer. Running from one event to the next, we are forgetting the purpose of winter: to hibernate. Bears do it and so should we.

The best thing we can do for our families, our community and ourselves is to give it a rest. Take a deep breath, close you're eyes and do ... nothing. For at least one day don't let your life get complicated. Keep it simple.

For those of you who thrive on directives, the following will be more helpful: Keep It Simple Sunday. (Yes, the KISS principle can be applied in many ways.) I challenge, no, I dare you to keep Sunday simple.

Put your jammies on, have three cups of coffee and eat syrup-smothered pancakes with bacon all day long. Don't do your dishes or the laundry and above all don't answer your phone.

If you are wise enough to accept this challenge, the color will return to your cheeks, the over-the-counter meds will stay in their cabinet and you'll probably remember where you left your keys. Your mind, body and soul will finally get to enjoy the magic of living in this dark, snowy, beautiful place that we call home.

Oh, and don't worry, summer is right around the corner.

Lisa Asselin, better known as "Red," or, if you are under the age of 7, as "Miss Red," runs Raspberry Lane Preschool and is part of the local initiative Nature Rocks Homer.

She writes that her mission at Raspberry Lane and through Nature Rocks Homer is "to help children and their families connect with nature."